The writers of Encouraging.com are celebrating their fifteen year landmark by making their 365 daily devotional book, God Moments, available as a free digital download! A total of thirty-six GABC writers have faithfully captured “moments of God’s presence” in their lives to encourage your own spiritual journey. You can find God Moments on amazon.com, iTunes, and BarnesandNoble.com.

NIV is used unless otherwise noted.

GIFTS, GIFTS, AND MIRACLES

In Louisa May Alcott’s book, Little
Women, the sister, Jo March, complained, “Christmas won't be Christmas without
any presents.”Well, Jo was right. Christmas began with gifts.

God’s gift was love.For God
so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life(John 3:16).

Mary gave selflessness.“I am the Lord’s servant”, Mary answered.“May it be to me as you have said.”Then the angel left her(Luke 1:38).

Joseph’s gift was trust and
faith.But, after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home
as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of
the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matthew
1:20-21, 24).

The Innkeeper gave
charity.He gifted a warm, safe, and dry
place for the night.Because there was no room for them in the
inn(Luke 2:7).

The Angel gave Good news of great joy that will be for all
people(Luke 2:10).

The shepherds’ gifts were
seeing, believing, and spreading the Good News.

Magi from the East saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, and of incense, and myrrh (Matthew 1:10-11). They, also, gave obedience and courage by not returning to the jealous and evil King Herod.

Jesus is the Miracle. The virgin birth of our Savior bringing us gifts of forgiveness, love, salvation, restoration, and life everlasting.